Overview
- Catherine Connolly led Heather Humphreys by 18 points in the latest Irish Times/Ipsos poll roughly a week before the vote.
- In an RTÉ debate, the candidates set out contrasting positions on cost of living, housing and migration with limited direct exchanges.
- Heather Humphreys faced renewed questions over her handling of the Shane O’Farrell case, saying she made representations to two justice ministers and expressing regret if the family felt she fell short.
- Catherine Connolly defended a 2018 Syria fact‑finding trip after an Irish Times photo showed her with a militia leader alleged to be linked to war crimes against Palestinian refugees.
- People Before Profit–Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, who has been closely involved in Connolly’s bid, initiated a defamation action against Humphreys, and Connolly’s team said it was not informed in advance.